How eBay And Amazon Q2 Growth Compares to Overall Ecommerce

Online retail spending was up 15 percent in the second quarter of 2012 versus a year ago, reaching $43.2 billion for the quarter, according to ComScore. That represented the eleventh consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth, and the seventh consecutive quarter of double-digit growth.

It's always interesting to compare marketplace performance against ecommerce growth rate. eBay reported that second-quarter U.S. Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) excluding vehicles increased 14% year-over-year to $6.24 billion. Amazon reported North America segment sales in Q2 were $7.33 billion, up 36% from second quarter 2011.

ComScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni said the second-quarter ecommerce growth rate was four times higher than the growth in overall consumer spending (online and offline), calling it "a sign of continued strength in the e-commerce channel."

However, he said that while ecommerce remains strong, "we are taking a cautious view of the second half of the year in light of some renewed signs of economic uncertainty and a stubbornly high unemployment rate." He said any significant future pullback in overall consumer spending could dampen the strong double-digit growth rates ecommerce has been experiencing for the year-to-date.

ComScore noted that the top-performing online product categories for the second quarter were: Digital Content & Subscriptions, Consumer Electronics, Flowers, Greetings & Gifts, Computer Hardware and Apparel & Accessories.

The company will be holding a seminar on Tuesday, August 14 from 2-3 p.m. Featured content includes analysis of how social media channels like Facebook and Pinterest are driving ecommerce.